A police watchdog say at this stage they will not be investigating the circumstances of how a fatal crash on the M61 was not discovered for 28 hours.
Nadeem Hussain’s family are urging the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to look at the events leading up to and following the crash on Saturday 21 March close to Junction 9 of the motorway where it meets the M65.
As Blog Preston revealed yesterday an iPhone SOS message was triggered when Mr Hussain crashed and went to the police control room – but was closed three minutes later.
Read more: Minor injury after crash that saw emergency services called to Pittman Way in Fulwood
Members of Mr Hussain’s family began their search for the 37-year-old and eventually located his vehicle themselves down the side of an embankment shortly before 2am on Monday 23 March.
A spokesperson for the IOPC told Blog Preston: “Our thoughts are with Mr Hussain’s family and loved ones, as well as all those affected by this tragic incident.
“We received a referral from Lancashire Constabulary relating to indirect contact police had with Mr Hussain via a crash detection alert sent from his phone and a subsequent missing persons report.
“After carefully considering the available information, we instructed the force to carry out an investigation to determine whether the matter was handled adequately. We suggested specific consideration should be given to address concerns over the actions taken by police after receiving the crash alert.
“We advised the force that if during the course of the investigation no recordable conduct is identified, the investigating officer must send a copy of the report to us on its completion for our Casework team to review. This ensures an appropriate level of independent oversight.”
On Monday the family of Mr Hussain, who is from Nelson, released an emotional tribute and a GoFundMe page in his memory has raised nearly £3,000.
The sister of Mr Hussain, Namza Hussain, says they are continuing to urge the IOPC to review the case and are planning to write to their local MP Jonathan Hinder to call on him to act.
Ribble Valley MP Maya Ellis – whose constituency the crash took place in – has called on Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw to look at the case.
A police spokesperson said: “An Iphone crash SOS alert message was received by the force control room at shortly after 10pm on Saturday, March 21st but after an attempt to recontact the number this call was closed.
“We referred ourselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who determined that an investigation should be conducted by ourselves. A local investigation is now underway.”
Police confirmed Nadeem had been reported missing to them on Sunday 22 March at 2.14pm and was being treated as a ‘medium risk’ missing person and enquiries were ongoing to find him.
A police spokesperson said: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Nadeem Hussain’s loved ones at this distressing time. They are being supported by specially trained officers.
“At 01.56am on Monday (March 23rd) we received a call from Mr Hussain’s family to say they had found his car off the M61 down the embankment in a wooded area on its side.
“Police attended and sadly Mr Hussain was found to be deceased inside the vehicle.
“A Home Office post-mortem examination showed he would have died instantly from his injuries.”
Police say they are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the crash or anyone with information to come forward, by calling police on 101 quoting log 0074 of March 23rd
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